The American Bandmasters Association

Convention

75th Annual
American Bandmasters Association Convention
March 3-7, 2009 in College Station, Texas

Convention Host: Tim Rhea, Director of Bands, Texas A&M University
Robert Jorgensen, President, The American Bandmasters Association

Convention Hotel: College Station Hilton Hotel and Conference Center
801 University Dr. East, College Station, TX 77840
Tel: 979.693.7500 or 1.800.HILTONS, Fax: 979.260.1931
www.hiltoncs.com

For Convention Registration
Convention Registration Form

For Hotel Reservations Online:
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/CLLCHHF-ABA09-20090303/index.jhtml

CUTOFF DATE FOR RESERVATIONS IS Tuesday, February 10, 2009

For Hotel Reservations Via Mail or Fax:
Download Registration Form Here – please mail this form by February 1, 2009

Online registration by Visa/MC available at http://tabastore.com/20ambaasev.html

Features of the College Station Hilton:
• The cost per room will be $90.00 per night
• 303 Guest Rooms following a recent six million dollar renovation
• 25,000 square feet of meeting space
• Full-service fitness center & outdoor pool/Jacuzzi
• Complimentary high speed wireless internet access throughout the hotel
• Post Oak Mall located minutes from hotel
• 5 minutes from Texas A&M University
• Starbucks Coffee shop located in the lobby
• Bell Ranch Steakhouse— located in the hotel and is noted as one of College Station’s most upscale steakhouses with style, hospitality, and masterfully created, unforgettable food. www.bellranchsteakhouse.com
• Numerous restaurants located within easy walking distance from the hotel
• Full service private bar for ABA Membership
• Free parking
• Enterprise Car Rental location on the hotel premises

Dining
For a list of restaurants, click here.

Message from the President: ABA 2009 in College Station
College Station will be a fantastic setting for the 75th ABA Convention. Please join us and partake of the wonderful Texas hospitality.

About The City of College Station-Bryan
College Station-Bryan and the Brazos Valley is a flourishing community located in the heart of east central Texas. College Station-Bryan, also known as “Aggieland,” is home to Texas A&M University (with a current enrollment of 46,000 students), the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, the Northgate Entertainment District, Historic Downtown Bryan, and the Messina Hof Winery. Tradition and Texas hospitality are a way of life. College Station-Bryan is centrally located between Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin. In fact, the area is located within a 180-mile radius of over 80% of Texas’ population. The population of the College Station-Bryan metropolitan area is over 190,000.

Bryan-College Station Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
http://www.visitaggieland.com or 1-800-777-8292

Traveling to College Station
College Station’s Easterwood Airport (CLL) hosts two airlines for flights, American Airlines (through Dallas-Fort Worth) and Continental Airlines (through Houston Bush). Complimentary shuttle service is provided through the College Station Hilton for both arrival and departure from Easterwood. Rental cars are available at the terminal through Advantage, Avis, and Hertz.

You can fly into Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), a 1 hour and 45 minute drive from College Station or Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), which is also a 1 hour and 45 minute drive. It is also possible to fly into Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), which is a three-hour drive to College Station.

Weather
The average weather in March for College Station is a high of 73 degrees and a low of 50 degrees, with an average rainfall of 2.8 inches. College Station averages 231 days per year of sunshine. Texas is known for unpredictable weather, and March is the windiest month in College Station; an umbrella and jacket are suggested.

About Our Hosts
Our hosts, Tim and Jennifer Rhea, plus Tim’s wonderful Texas A&M staff – Jean Stanley, Jay Brewer, Travis Almany, and Paul Sikes – have been working diligently to make this convention a truly spectacular occasion. Visits are planned to the Messina Hof Winery and Resort, the Blue Bell Creamery, and to the George Bush Library and Museum.
Anne and I look forward to the great concerts and to sharing time with each of you in College Station. Again, a special thank you to our wonderful hosts Tim and Jennifer Rhea for their work in making the 75th ABA Convention a truly memorable one!

Best wishes,
Bob
Bob Jorgensen, President
The American Bandmasters Association

Schedule of Events
Click here for the schedule of events.

Performances
ABA Convention concerts will be held in Rudder Auditorium on the campus of Texas A&M University.

Wednesday, Welcome Concert, March 4, 2009 – 8:00 pm
The Austin Bowie High School Wind Ensemble, Bruce Dinkins, conductor
The Texas A&M University Wind Symphony, Tim Rhea, conductor

Thursday, March 5, 2009 – 8:00 pm
The Texas Christian University Wind Symphony, Bobby Francis, conductor
The University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Jerry Junkin, conductor

Friday, March 6, 2009 – 8:00 pm
The United States Navy Band, Captain George N. Thompson, Commanding Officer/Leader

Rudder Auditorium is the centerpiece of the Rudder Theatre Complex. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 2,500 including lower and balcony seating. Throughout the year, the auditorium is used for a wide variety of events. These include presentations of the University’s Opera and Performing Arts Society of Broadway touring companies, ballets, symphonies, and the like. This facility is also used for conferences, movies, lectures and programs organized by various student groups. Within the last few years, “Les Miserables,” the London Philharmonic Symphony, Grigorovich Ballet Company, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, Mikhail Gorbachev, Rudy Giuliani, and former Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and George Bush have all appeared on this stage. The Rudder Theatre Complex was completed in 1974 and underwent extensive renovations in the autumn of 2007.

Excursions
THURSDAY, MARCH 5

ABA Golf Tournament
Pebble Creek Golf Club, College Station www.pebblecreek.org/club.htm
• Nationally recognized course designed by Ken Dye
• Championship course designed for challenge and enjoyment
• Wonderful blend of country club comfort and relaxed, friendly Brazos County hospitality.
• Pebble Creek Golf Club is a private club so clubs are not available for rental.

Messina Hof Winery and Resort, Bryan
www.messinahof.com
• A private tour and wine tasting will be planned for the group.
• There are many attractions of the award winning winery:
• The Vintage House Restaurant
• Winemaster’s Room wine bar
• Awards to various Messina Hof wines include: GOLD: Best Chardonnay-2005 Grapefest People’s Tasting Classic; BEST OF SHOW: 2003 New Orleans Wine & Food Extravaganza; GOLD BEST OF SHOW: 2004 Texas’ Best Wine Competition.

Brenham & Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory
Blue Bell Creameries, Brenham, TX
www.bluebell.com & www.downtownbrenham.com

Lunch and antique shopping in historic downtown Brenham accompanied by a tour of the Blue Bell Creameries.
• Downtown Brenham is home to a delightful variety of antique and specialty shops and historic buildings.
• Critically acclaimed and award winning Blue Bell Creamery produces some of the creamiest, most delicious, country-style ice cream in the world.
• Blue Bell ice cream is sold exclusively in the southern United States.
• The factory tour ends with a complimentary scoop of ice cream.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Texas A&M University, College Station
http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu

Luncheon at the George Bush Presidential Library, followed by a tour of the library and museum.
• 21,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the preservation, research, and exhibition of official records, personal papers, and memorabilia of George H. W. Bush.
• Temporary exhibit in March 2009 is “From the Moon and Beyond: The 50th Anniversary of NASA.”
• The library and museum is part of the George Bush Presidential Library Center which is also home to the prestigious Bush School of Government and Public Service and the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

Luncheon
A complimentary luncheon will be hosted for the ABA Membership at The Zone Club by the Texas Aggie Band Association. The meal will be catered by Pappas.
• The Zone Club is the premier seating and dining area of Kyle Field, home of the Aggie football team.
• The Zone Club was designed for the optimal blend of elegance and comfort.
• Pappas of Houston is renowned for their range of gourmet cuisine.
• A photo of the 2009 convention attendees will be taken following the lunch.
• The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band will give a special performance on Kyle Field for the ABA membership after lunch.

Anne and I look forward to these great concerts and to sharing time with each of you in College Station. Again, a special thank you to our wonderful hosts Tim and Jennifer Rhea for their work in making the 75th ABA Convention a truly memorable one!

Best wishes,
Bob Jorgensen, President
The American Bandmasters Association

Message from our Host, Tim Rhea, Director of Bands, Texas A&M University

To the members of the American Bandmasters Association,

Jennifer and I, along with those involved from Texas A&M University, are hoping to see each of you in College Station for the 75th convention of the American Bandmasters Association. Working with Bob and Anne Jorgensen, we have been able to secure an outstanding hotel/convention center, exceptional performing ensembles, and several terrific convention aspects that will be strongly connected with the College Station/Bryan, Texas community.
We are grateful that we have been chosen for the prestigious gathering. Our staff has spent a great deal of time and energy preparing for your arrival, and I feel that you will find this to be a wonderful convention. As you add our convention dates to your calendars, please do not hesitate to contact our office (979-845-3529) if we can be of any assistance to you.

Yours truly,
Tim
Dr. Timothy Rhea
Host, 2009 ABA Convention

Next ABA Convention
Charleston, SC, March 3-6, 2010